A challenge by GreyWolf

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                High atop a mountain east of everything that ever was, lived an elderly woman.  Her days were filled with simple tasks to ensure her warmth and sustenance. The need for companionship was long ago forgotten, she was more than enough company for herself, she and her goat that is.

                On the side of the hill outside of her one room house, hung banners that used to be bright and colorful but were now faded by the sun and tattered by the wind. Words were written on them, words that carried meaning to anyone who might listen.  The banners flapped and swished in the wind. A cluster of pots also hung outside her front door, these clanged with a low throaty bang announcing storms or rain.

                Around the grounds were scruffy bushes of herbs and green tea. When the old woman went for a walk she took her  goat who helped trim the tea bushes by munching the sweet leaves. It made a good breakfast for the goat and kept the bushes from growing too high. A tiny rice patty gave her enough food to get her through the long winters. Her fruits and nut trees provided the rest.

                One day, as she squatted beside the well fetching water filling an old clay pot, a beautiful white dove landed nearby on a branch of a twisted pine tree.  The woman slowly leaned back on her heels not wanting to frighten the newcomer.

                Cooing in a whisper she asked  “Is it my time to go?”

                “No,” replied the bird, “It is your time to teach what you know.”

                The woman sat for a moment pondering the situation. Teach what I know she thought, what do I know that anyone will want to hear?

                “I will carry your words, like your old banners, to the person who needs to hear it.” said the dove as if it had read her mind.

                “Ah, now I understand.  When shall we start, how often will I tell you my thoughts  and how long will it take you to return, what if I run out of wisdom?”

                All the questions were answered except for the last one and because the dove never answered it, it is to this day that she lives on, her wisdom as full and deep as her well. The woman and her dove tell each other deep secrets and it is only up to us to sit quietly enough to hear the old sages words through the dove.

<img alt="" src="http://gr

eywolf.bravepages.com/OD/WomanWithDove.jpg” />

Beautiful picture Thomas, I just had to write a quickie something to it. Thanks!